2023-05-29 23:05:30
The chance of the programming of the French Open launched in quick succession this May 29 at the end of the afternoon and the beginning of the evening, the two greatest hopes of French tennis in the deep end of Roland-Garros. The two finalists for the junior tournament in 2021, Luca Van Assche (19 years old since May 11) and Arthur Fils, who will celebrate his family on June 12, discovered the big players’ court at Roland-Garros almost at the same time. With varying fortunes.
Luca Van Assche tout and maîtrise
He too loves court number 14 at Roland-Garros, this rectangle of ocher earth at the end of the stadium. Lucas Pouille and Fiona Ferro have already written their story there in recent days. Another Frenchman has just opened his own there. Luca Van Assche (n°82) played there on the evening falling his first match in the main draw of Roland-Garros. The winner of the junior tournament two years earlier is opposed to the Italian in Marco Cecchinato. A semi-finalist right here in 2018, the Italian ranked 72nd in the world is no longer a contender for the second week. The step is therefore not impassable and the Frenchman climbs it with nerve.
Van Assche won the first two sets 6-1, 6-1, and did not let his guard down in the third set even if the Italian recovered. Conquering, the French however did not let him breathe and won 6-3. For the happiness of a public of Roland who discovers it. “He’s a solid guy,” analyzes Clément. I don’t see many flaws in it. He goes into the ball with rage. At 19, he is already impressive in his emotional control. In addition, he has a good face to Dany Boon. This kid will go far, I bet it. »
After a trial last January in Australia, this is the first time that Van Assche has passed a round in a Grand Slam tournament. Whatever happens in his life, he will remember May 29, 2023: “I was a little stressed at the start, confides the winner. We do not enter Roland-Garros as in any tournament. But I managed to place my game and I’m happy to have won in three sets, to have passed a first grand slam first round here. I managed despite the pressure to stay serene, calm and focused and that’s why I won in three sets. Now I want to go as far as possible. »
After a doubles match on Tuesday, Van Assche will face the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich in the next round, who beat a certain … Arthur Fils, his friend: “We both push each other, continues Van Assche. As we have the same level, when he wins, he shows me that I can do the same. Regarding Davidovich, if I meet Arthur, I will ask him two or three things. “Not necessarily mandatory: the Spaniard and the French hopeful have already clashed in early April at Estoril in Portugal. Davidovich had won 6-3, 7-5.
Consoling “Thank you Arthur”
Arthur Fils played him at the other end of the stadium, on the Simonne-Mathieu court. He too will be seen on earth. The kid is not even 19 years old and if all goes well, he is starting a lease of a good fifteen years with the tournament. For the 2023 edition, however, it’s over. After fiercely defending his chances, Arthur Fils therefore ended up falling under the blows of the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich (n°34) winner 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Under the setting sun, the finalist of the 2021 junior tournament fought a fight of almost three hours on a court full to the brim of 5,000 fans all committed to his cause. The “Go Victor” and “Thank you Victor” at the end warm his heart. “We have just seen a future world nugget and I am not talking about the Spaniard, slips Séverine at the end of the course. He’s still a little young but we can see that he already has everything going for him: a game under construction and a pretty good face. He reminds me of someone who won here 40 years ago if you know who I’m talking about. I don’t know if Arthur will win Roland-Garros one day but he won’t be far from it. Me, I could say at that time that I saw his first game. »
In 2021 then 2022, the current No. 63 at ATP failed to make it past the second qualifying round. A wild card opens the doors to him this time. He closes them too early but with a check for 69,000 euros in his pocket: “It’s great to play on big courts like this, in such conditions with so many people, says the native of Bondoufle (Essonne). That’s why I play tennis. I would have liked it to continue a little longer. I want to come back to go further…”
Faced with the blond Spaniard with a black sock (and the other white), Arthur Fils certainly lacks experience, perhaps also freshness. He misses his first round, 48 hours after winning his first ATP title the day before in Lyon: “I don’t think fatigue has played a role,” continues the Frenchman, who is now devoting himself to the grass season. I actually missed the first set and over the whole match, I was not excellent. Davidovich is the best player I’ve faced on clay this year. I have a lot of lessons to learn from this game. Hot, they are not positive but I think that tomorrow I will see the good side. He makes an appointment. It is already a lot.
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